Is your Windows 11 PC taking forever to start or open apps? Most slowdowns come from too many startup apps, low storage or pending updates. Try these fixes in order.
Common causes
- Too many apps launching at startup
- Almost-full drive
- Pending Windows updates
- Background apps using CPU or memory
- Malware
1. Restart your PC
A proper restart clears memory and finishes pending updates. Use Start > Power > Restart rather than Shut down.
2. Disable startup apps
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Open the Startup apps tab.
- Right-click apps you don’t need at startup and choose Disable.
3. Free up disk space
- Open Settings > System > Storage.
- Turn on Storage Sense.
- Click Temporary files and remove what you don’t need.
- Uninstall apps you no longer use.
4. Install Windows updates
Go to Settings > Windows Update and click Check for updates. Install everything, including driver updates under Advanced options > Optional updates.
5. Check for malware
Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection and run a Quick scan. Run a Full scan if the PC still feels unusually slow.
6. Change the power mode
Go to Settings > System > Power & battery and set Power mode to Best performance when plugged in.
7. Consider an upgrade
If your PC still has a hard disk drive (HDD), switching to an SSD is the biggest speed boost. Adding RAM also helps if you have 8 GB or less.
Tips
- Keep at least 15–20% of your drive free.
- Close browser tabs you aren’t using; each one uses memory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does resetting Windows make it faster?
Often yes, but back up your files first. Use it as a last resort.
How much RAM do I need for Windows 11?
8 GB is fine for basic use; 16 GB is better for multitasking.
